Why MPs are talking about a government of national unity again

The idea of a government of national unity appeared to have died when Boris Johnson won a decisive majority of 80 in the December snap election. Prior to that, it was a topic that frequently dominated Theresa May’s premiership and the beginning of Johnson’s. Proponents argued that a government formed of senior figures from each party (sometimes sharing similar views) would be best placed to solve the Brexit conundrum.

With Brexit wars now a distant memory thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the idea has re-entered public debate over the government’s handling of the virus outbreak. A number of commentators have called in recent days for Johnson to be replaced by a team of experienced politicians from across the divide. While this is pie in the sky, a number of Tory MPs are now discussing the merits of some kind of cross party government for a short period of time. The former minister George Freeman has said